BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, January 22, 2026: The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted both Hindu and Muslim communities to offer prayers at the Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Friday, issuing detailed directions to ensure orderly worship amid heightened sensitivities.
Under the court’s arrangement, members of the Hindu community will be allowed to perform prayers from sunrise to sunset on the occasion of Basant Panchami, while Muslims will be permitted to offer Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm at the site.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi directed that a list of Muslim worshippers attending the Friday prayers be submitted in advance to the district administration. The court also urged both communities to cooperate fully with local authorities and to exercise restraint in the interest of maintaining public order.
The directions were issued while hearing a plea filed by the Hindu Front for Justice (HFJ), which had sought exclusive access to the site for Hindu prayers on Basant Panchami. The petition, filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, was urgently mentioned before the court earlier this month.
SC Allows Basant Panchami Pooja At Bhojshala, Restricts Namaz Timing From 1 PM To 3 PM
The Supreme Court has allowed Hindus to offer Basant Panchami pooja from sunrise to sunset at Bhojshala complex in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh.
Bhojshala is a temple dedicated to Goddess… pic.twitter.com/pYKhsUD8kc
— Ritam English (@english_ritam) January 22, 2026
The HFJ argued that an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order issued in 2003 does not provide clarity for situations in which Basant Panchami coincides with a Friday, raising concerns over overlapping religious observances.
READ: Chilling Video Shows Execution-Style Killing of Meitei Man in Manipur
Background to the Bhojshala Dispute
The Bhojshala complex, an 11th-century protected monument, is revered by Hindus as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while the Muslim community recognises it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
The ASI’s 2003 order allows Muslims to offer Friday prayers at the site between 1 pm and 3 pm, permits Hindus to perform rituals on Basant Panchami, and grants Hindus exclusive access every Tuesday. However, the order does not spell out protocols for years when Basant Panchami falls on a Friday—a coincidence that has occurred only four times, including this year, after 2006, 2013, and 2016.
In anticipation of large gatherings and to prevent any untoward incident, security has been significantly reinforced across Dhar district. Around 8,000 personnel, including forces from the CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF), have been deployed.
Authorities have intensified foot and vehicle patrols, activated CCTV surveillance, and are closely monitoring social media activity to deter misinformation or provocative content.
Officials said the security measures are precautionary and aimed at ensuring peaceful observance of religious practices by both communities.
